5 things I already love about K&E
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It’s all about kids today
There are two versions of every summer camp.
The first is the off-season, when summer has faded away, winter is setting in, and things get very quiet.
The other is the summer when things dial all the way up, the energy is off the hook, and everything is humming at full speed.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I’d only seen K&E in that first version. But then I got a combo deal, a chance to spend part of the off-season with that summer energy. That was at Winter Weekend.
Walking from Cypress to the Hollow, watching these kids together, meeting more of the staff, seeing things in, well, action, something clicked for me in a way I hadn’t expected.
After 29 years in camping, you start to think you’ve seen it all. Nope.
There’s something different here. Something special that makes K&E stand out.
Here Are Five Things I’m Already Super Pumped About:
1. These Aren’t Just Summer Camp Friendships - They’re Family
Most camps talk about making friends. And at most camps you do make friends.
But watching these K&E kids together this weekend, “friends” doesn’t quite capture it. It’s more like cousins who can’t wait for the next family reunion.
The way kids come back to camp year after year showed me that K&E builds connections that go way deeper than typical summer friendships. That’s the upside of three-week and 6-and-half-week sessions, and something I really got to see over the weekend.
2. A Staff That Stays
Here are a couple of numbers that might not sound exciting at first, but trust me - they’re huge.
This summer, we have just three new counselors in Kenwood and six in Evergreen. That’s it. Everyone else is coming back.
Why does this matter for your kids?
Because every returning counselor brings back experience, but along with it, a deep understanding of what makes K&E special.
They’re not just summer rookies - they’re confidence-building and fun-creating veterans, guides who know exactly how to help your kids crush it.
3. The Culture of Caring
Scott and the team have created something incredible here, and believe me, this isn’t easy. At K&E, status isn’t about being the loudest or the most popular. It’s about how well you take care of others. It’s hard to fully put this in words, though I’m going to keep trying over the weeks, months, summers, and years.
But it was so obvious that the more you help, the more you contribute, the more respect you get.
Think Harry Potter’s Cedric Diggory - the kid who became a hero by lifting others up. That’s the K&E way.
4. The Hut 6 Grill Masters
Some of my favorite traditions are the ones that seem simple to everyone else but mean everything to those involved.
Every night, our oldest boys in Hut 6 fire up the grill and cook for all of Senior Hill.
It’s more than dinner - it’s a nightly reminder that our oldest campers are leaders. They’re caretakers. They’re community builders.
It’s so, so, so (and a couple more so’s) tough to find this anywhere. But here, it’s just part of what happens.
5. The Juniper Girls Leading the Way
Teenagers get a bad rap these days. They’re made to appear selfish, or egotistical, or stereotypically mean.
Not here. The stone-cold opposite. Just watch the oldest girls in Juniper take ownership of Evergreen’s culture.
They learn the welcoming songs, they set the tone, and they take their role as camp leaders seriously.
Friday night of winter weekend (first night) they gather all the senior girls, sit in a circle in Cypress, make sure everyone knows each other’s names, tell stories, and generally make sure every single girl feels at home.
The Juniper girls lead it. Not any staff
And that kind of leadership is special in so many ways.
Why This Matters
You hear all the time that teens are disengaged or self-absorbed. Maybe that’s true. I don’t know, because the teens I see every summer don’t rock this way.
K&E has something remarkable. It’s a place where kids naturally grow into leaders. Where that’s the expectation, and where taking care of others isn’t just part of some brochure or pamphlet - it’s the backbone of what happens all the time.
I can’t wait to be part of your children’s journey this summer. If you have a K&E moment that’s special to your family, hit reply and share it with me.
I’d love to hear what makes K&E magical for you.
You got this!
Jack
PS - I'm Jack Schott. The newest member of the admin team at K&E.
You can get a quick intro on me from this short video or a longer conversation with Scott and I about the power of camp.
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Get my newsletter every week.
It’s all about kids today
Jack Schott
Summer Camp Evangelist